Gps-prioritized information for gps devices

ABSTRACT

An invention for providing information to a GPS device by selecting location-specific information stored on a memory medium incorporated in the GPS device, or received by the GPS device from location-specific information broadcast by GPS satellites. The stored or broadcast location-specific information includes a GPS-advice type and a GPS-advice range. The CPU of the GPS device compares a computed or user-input GPS device location with the GPS-advice range included in the stored or broad-cast location-specific information, and outputs the location-specific information to the GPS device if the GPS device location falls within the GPS-advice range included in the stored or broadcast location-specific information or advertising. The stored or broad-cast location-specific information may also be searched and output by user input of any location or GPS-advice type. The stored or transmitted information may be advertising.

This invention relates to global positioning system (“GPS”) technologyand to a device, a system, and methods for providing information to GPSdevices and their users.

The conventional advertising paradigm of mass communicating a messageusing media such as magazines, radio or television broadcasts, ischanging to a paradigm of directed advertising to selected groups ofconsumers, and even individual consumers. Global positioning GPStechnologies are being used to deliver advertising to GPS receivers. Thedelivery of such advertising is also dependent upon technologies such aswireless access to networks or commercial radio or televisionbroadcasts, that interface with, but are operationally distinct from thesystem of orbiting GPS satellites and terrestrial GPS receivers.

The invention is an apparatus and a method, and a system and a method,for providing information to a GPS device.

A first embodiment of the invention comprises a memory medium on whichthere is stored a plurality of GPS-advice data sets, each comprising aGPS-advice type, a GPS-advice range, and GPS-advice. The memory mediumis operatively connected to a central processing unit (“CPU”) and anoutput device of the GPS device. The CPU compares a current computed, oruser-input, GPS device location with the GPS-advice range included ineach GPS-advice data set, and selects GPS-advice data set for output tothe output device if the GPS device location falls within the GPS-advicerange included in the GPS-advice data set. The CPU also compares auser-input GPS-advice type with the GPS-advice type included in eachGPS-advice data set, and selects a GPS-advice data set for output to theoutput device whenever the GPS device location matches the GPS-advicetype included in the GPS-advice data set

A second embodiment of the invention comprises the system of GPSsatellites, with each GPS satellite having an allocation of memorystoring GPS-advice data sets that include a GPS-advice type, aGPS-advice range, and GPS-advice. Each GPS satellite broadcastsGPS-advice data sets to a GPS device having a CPU and an output device.The CPU of the GPS device compares a computed or user-input GPS devicelocation with the GPS-advice range included in the broadcast andreceived GPS-advice data sets received by the GPS device, and selects abroadcast GPS-advice data set for output to the output device if the GPSdevice location falls within the GPS-advice range included in thebroadcast GPS-advice data set. The CPU also compares a user-inputGPS-advice type with the GPS-advice type included in the broadcast andreceived GPS-advice data set, and selects the broadcast GPS-advice dataset for output to the output device if the user-input GPS device typematches the GPS-advice type included in the broadcast and receivedGPS-advice data set

In either of the foregoing embodiments, a user of a GPS device may queryeither the memory medium, or the currently received GPS-advice data setsbroadcast by GPS satellites, for GPS-advice identified by GPS-advicetypes for travel-related goods and services such as, for example,lodging, fuel, food, vehicle repair and maintenance, parking, and thelike.

The invention provides the advantage of outputting location-specificinformation and advertising to a GPS device, either by incorporating thelocation-specific information and advertising within the hardware of theGPS device proper, or by “piggy-backing” location-specific informationand advertising onto the L1 signals continuously broadcast by GPSsatellites to GPS receivers. Accordingly, the invention provideslocation-specific information and advertising that is not dependent onequipping a GPS device with wireless networking access or access tocommercial radio or television broadcasts. Moreover, the inventionprovides a backup source of location-specific information andadvertising for the user of a GPS device in those cases where a user ofa GPS device experiences problems with wireless access to information.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to theaccompanying drawings in which,

FIG. 1 is a block diagrammatic representation of a GPS deviceoperationally connected to a memory medium;

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a GPS-advice data set and aplurality of GPS-advice data sets stored in a memory medium; and,

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic representation of a GPS satellite-based systemfor providing GPS-advice data set to a GPS device.

The invention comprises a novel device, system and methods for providinglocation-specific information and advertising that is relevant to thelocation of a GPS device or the location-specific needs of its user,without equipping a GPS device with wireless access to communicationsnetworks containing information or advertising databases, and withoutequipping a GPS device for the reception of commercial radio ortelevision broadcasts.

The Global Positioning System (“GPS”) is the satellite-based navigationsystem of satellites placed into orbit by the U.S. Department ofDefense, which satellites transmit so-called “L1” signals receivable bya civilian GPS receiver for use in computing the location of the GPSreceiver.

As used herein, a GPS device is a GPS receiver, or any GPS-enabledmobile computing or communications device, such as, for example, apersonal digital assistant (“PDA”), a hand-held, wrist-worn, orgarment-borne communications or computing device, a laptop or notebookcomputer, a pager, or a cellular telephone, or any combination thereof,operationally connected to a GPS receiver.

The GPS device receives L1 signals broadcast by GPS satellites andextracts data from the L1 signals for use by a programmable centralprocessing unit (“CPU”) operatively connected to the GPS device, tocompute a GPS device location, that is, the longitude, latititude andaltitude of the GPS device. The GPS device location typically appears onan output device operationally connected to the GPS device, such as, forexample, a liquid crystal display, or any other device for the display,presentation, manifestation or output of audiovisual, graphical ortextual information from the CPU of the GPS device.

The present invention provides location-specific information oradvertising, having relevance to the location of the GPS device or thelocation-specific needs of its user, by outputting location-specificinformation and advertising to the output device of the GPS device.

As used herein, the term “GPS-advice” means audiovisual, graphical ortextual location-specific information, assembled, collected, gathered,grouped, connected, linked or organized as a set of data that isidentified by an “GPS-advice type” and a “GPS-advice range” that alsoincluded in the data set (hereinafter “GPS-advice data set”)

As used herein, the “GPS-advice type” identifies a GPS-advice data setas a category, classification, type or kind of location-specificinformation or advertising, such as, for example, in the case oftravel-related information, lodging, food, fuel, entertainment, parking,docking, maintenance, repair, and the like.

As used herein, the “GPS-advice range” identifies a GPS-advice data setby a set of predetermined ranges of longitude, latitude, and altitude.The GPS-advice range may, for example, comprise a set of predeterminedranges of latitude, longitude, and altitude, respectively encompassing apredetermined fixed longitude, latitude and altitude, where the fixedlatitude, longitude and altitude correspond, for example to the centerof a city, the peak of a mountain, or the terminus of a peninsula

The GPS-advice data set may be acquired from either a memory mediumoperationally connected to the GPS device, or received by the GPS devicefrom a dedicated carrier signal broadcast by a GPS satellites togetherwith L1 signals.

The memory medium may be physical data storage in the form of one ormore hardware memory devices such as, for example, read-only memory(“ROM”), programmable read-only memory (“PROM”), erasable programmableread-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-onlymemory (“EEPROM”), or flash memory (“flash EEPROM”).

In a first embodiment of the invention, GPS advice, such as a listing ofaddresses, directions to addresses, telephone numbers and room rates formember-motels of a motel chain, or listings of addressees, directions toaddresses, telephone numbers and menu offerings of member-restaurants ofa fast-food chain may, for example, be stored as GPS-advice data sets ina ROM chip that is built into the GPS device in the course of itsmanufacture.

The CPU of the GPS device may, for example, be programmed to access andoutput those motels or restaurants included in GPS-advice data setshaving a GPS-advice range that encompasses a GPS location computed bythe CPU for the GPS device, may be programmed to access and output thosemotels or restaurants included in GPS-advice data sets having aGPS-advice range that encompasses any GPS location input by a user ofthe GPS device.

This embodiment of the invention has the advantage of providing a sourceof location-specific advertising information that is not dependent onequipping a GPS device with wireless networking access, or access tocommercial radio or television broadcasts.

In a second embodiment of the invention, GPS advice, such as aworld-wide listing of addresses and telephone numbers of, for example,Western Union™ or American Express™ Offices, or of Christian ScienceReading Rooms™ or CitiBank™ ATMs, may be stored as GPS-advice data setswithin an allocation of memory aboard any GPS satellite. TheseGPS-advice data sets may, for example, be modulated within the GPSsatellite on a dedicated carrier signal that is multiplexed with the GPSsatellite's standard L1 signals for continuous orbital broadcasting.

Such GPS-advice data sets may be received and demodulated by a properlyconfigured GPS device, and output to a user only if the current computedlocation of the GPS-device falls within the GPS-advice ranges includedin the GPS-advice data sets broadcast by GPS satellites and received bythe GPS device.

This embodiment of the invention also has the advantage of providing asource of location-specific information that is neither dependent onequipping a GPS device with wireless networking access nor commercialradio and television broadcast access. Rather, the location-specificinformation and advertising is made available to users of the mostrudimentary GPS devices that rely exclusively GPS technology for theirsupport.

Depending on the embodiment of the invention, the CPU of the GPS deviceeither compares the computed or user-input GPS device location with theGPS-advice range included in each GPS-advice data set stored on thememory medium; or, compares the computed or user-input GPS devicelocation with the GPS-advice range included in the GPS-advice data setsbroadcast by GPS satellites and received by the GPS device.

If the computed or user-input GPS device location falls within theGPS-advice range included in either a stored or broadcast and receivedGPS-advice data set, the GPS-advice data set is selected for output tothe output device of the GPS device.

The location of a GPS device “falls within” a GPS-advice range if thecomputed or user-input longitude of a GPS device falls about within thepredetermined range of longitude of GPS-advice data set; and, thecomputed or user-input latitude of a GPS device falls about within thepredetermined range of latitude of GPS-advice data set; and, thecomputed or user-input altitude of a GPS device falls about within thepredetermined range of altitude of GPS-advice data set.

Conversely, The location of a GPS device does not fall within aGPS-advice data set range if the computed or user-input longitude of aGPS device does not fall about within the predetermined range oflongitude of GPS-advice data set; and, the computed or user-inputlatitude of a GPS device does not fall about within the predeterminedrange of latitude of GPS-advice data set; and, the computed oruser-input altitude of a GPS device does not fall about within thepredetermined range of altitude of GPS-advice data set.

The CPU of the GPS device may also compare a user-input GPS-advice typewith the GPS-advice type included in either stored or broadcast andreceived GPS-advice data sets. If the user-input GPS-advice type matchesthat of any GPS-advice data set, the GPS-advice data set is selected foroutput to the output device of the GPS device.

In either of the foregoing embodiments, a user of a GPS device may queryeither the stored or broadcast and received GPS-advice data sets, forthe presence of a GPS-advice type identifying travel-related goods andservices such as, for example, lodging, fuel, food, vehicle repair andmaintenance, parking, and the like.

Referring now to the drawings in which like parts are designated by likenumerals in the various views, in FIG. 1 there is schematically shown,in the form of a block diagram, a first embodiment of the invention,comprising GPS device 20, in which GPS receiver 21, including GPSantenna 25, signal-processing circuit 26, CPU (“CPU”) 30, and outputdevice 33, is operatively connected both to mobile communications orcomputing device 22 and memory medium 23.

L1 GPS signals 24 are received by GPS antenna 25 and input to GPSreceiver 21 through signal-processing circuit 26, which acquires,identifies, segregates, demodulates and extracts GPS positional data 38from L1 GPS signals 24 for input to GPS central processing unit (“CPU”)30. CPU 30 utilizes extracted GPS positional data 38 for computation ofa set of positional coordinates comprising the GPS device location. CPU30 outputs GPS device location to output device 33.

FIG. 2 shows, for purposes of schematic illustration only, arepresentative GPS-advice data set 37 containing audiovisual, graphicalor textual location-specific information or advertising content 36, aGPS-advice type 39, and a GPS-advice range 40, which GPS-advice rangecomprises a predetermined range of latitude 41, a predetermined range oflongitude 42, and a predetermined range of altitude 43.

The division of GPS-advice data set 37 into compartments, regions orsubdivisions, as shown in FIG. 2, is intended merely to identify anddistinguish the data of which it is comprised. The division ofGPS-advice data set 37 into compartments, regions or subdivisions, asshown in FIG. 2, is not intended to segregate, allocate, place or relatelocation-specific information or advertising 36, GPS-advice type 39,GPS-advice range 40, and ranges of latitude 41, longitude 42, andaltitude 43, in any way.

Memory medium 23 stores a plurality of the exemplary GPS-advice datasets 37, including differing location-specific information oradvertising 36, GPS-advice types 39, and GPS-advice ranges 40.

CPU 30 is programmed to compare the GPS device location it has computedfor

GPS device 20 from extracted GPS positional data 38 with the GPS-advicerange 40 contained in each of the GPS-advice data sets 35 stored inmemory medium 23, and to select a GPS-advice data set 37 from theplurality of GPS-advice data sets 35if the GPS device location it hascomputed falls within the GPS-advice range 40 contained in each of theof GPS-advice data sets 35. CPU 30 is also programmed to compare a GPSdevice location that has been input by a user of GPS device 20 with theGPS-advice range 40 contained in each of the GPS-advice data sets 35stored in memory medium 23, and to select a GPS-advice data set 37 fromthe plurality of GPS-advice data sets 35, whenever the user-input GPSdevice location falls within the GPS-advice range 40 contained in eachof the GPS-advice data sets 35.

CPU 30 is further programmed to compare one or more GPS-advice typesthat have been input by a user of GPS device 20 with the GPS-advice type39 contained each of the GPS-advice data sets 35 stored in memory medium23, and to select a GPS-advice data set 37 from the plurality ofGPS-advice data sets 35, whenever the user-input GPS-advice type matchesa GPS-advice type 39 contained in each of the of GPS-advice data sets35.

Having selected one or more GPS-advice data sets on the basis of any ofthe foregoing selection modalities, CPU 30 copies the informationcontent 36 of the selected GPS-advice data sets to output device 33 ofGPS device 20 for automatic, periodic or on-demand output to the user ofGPS device 20. For example, CPU 30 may be programmed to display theinformation content 36 of the selected GPS-advice data sets output tooutput device 33 whenever the GPS device location is output to outputdevice 33

As shown schematically in FIG. 3, in a second embodiment of theinvention, GPS satellite antenna 34 on GPS satellite 49 receivessatellite-bound carrier signal 50 carrying satellite-bound GPS-advicedata set 51 transmitted thereto from one or more external transmitters52.

GPS satellite receiver 47 receives GPS-advice data set 51 from GPSsatellite antenna 34 following passage of satellite-bound carrier signal50 through signal input circuit 48, which identifies, demodulates andextracts satellite-bound GPS-advice data set 51. GPS satellite receiver47 thereafter stores satellite-bound GPS-advice data set 51 in anallocation of computer memory 53 of the GPS satellite 49.

GPS satellite signal output circuit 46 recovers GPS-advice data set 51from GPS satellite allocation of computer memory 53 for remodulation assatellite-broadcast GPS-advice data set 45 on dedicatedsatellite-broadcast carrier signal 55. GPS satellite signal outputcircuit 46 thereafter multiplexes dedicated satellite-broadcast carriersignal 55 with L1 signals 24 continuously broadcast by GPS satellitetransmitter 54.

GPS satellite 49 may be any one of the twenty-four GPS satellitescomprising the constellation of orbiting GPS satellites. GPS satellitereceiver 47 and GPS satellite signal input circuit 48 in each GPSsatellite may be adapted to acquire, identify, demodulate and extractsatellite-bound carrier signals 50 carrying different forms, types orkinds of satellite-bound GPS-advice data set 51 transmitted thereto fromone or more external transmitters 52.

GPS receiver 21 and signal-processing circuit 26 of GPS device 20 areadapted to acquire, identify, and demodulate dedicatedsatellite-broadcast carrier signal 55 for extraction ofsatellite-broadcast GPS-advice data set 44. CPU 30 is programmed tocompare the GPS device location computed by it for GPS device 20, or theGPS device location input by a user of GPS device 20, with theGPS-advice range 40 included in extracted satellite-broadcast GPS-advicedata set 44, and to copy extracted satellite-broadcast GPS-advice dataset 44 to output device 33 of GPS device 20, only if the calculated oruser-input GPS device location falls within the GPS-advice range 40included in the extracted satellite-broadcast GPS-advice data set 44.

CPU 30 is also programmed to compare a GPS-advice type input by a userof GPS device 20 with GPS-advice type 39 included in extractedsatellite-broadcast GPS-advice data set 44, and to copy extractedsatellite-broadcast GPS-advice data set 44 to output device 33 of GPSdevice 20, only if the user-input GPS-advice type matches the GPS-advicetype 39 included in extracted satellite-broadcast GPS-advice data set44.

CPU 30 is further programmed to ignore extracted satellite-broadcastGPS-advice data set 44 whenever the computed or user-input GPS devicelocation does not fall within the GPS-advice range 40, or whenever auser-input GPS-advice type does not match the GPS-advice type 39,included in extracted satellite-broadcast GPS-advice data set 44.

Satellite-broadcast GPS-advice data set45, extracted satellite-broadcastGPS-advice data set 44 and GPS-advice data set 37 may be containadvertising.

The foregoing description of embodiments and uses of this invention hasbeen presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is notintended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise formor use disclosed, and obviously, many modifications and variations arepossible. Such modifications and variations that may be apparent to aperson skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scopeof this invention as defined by the accompanying claims.

1. An apparatus comprising a memory medium storing at least oneGPS-advice data set comprising a GPS-advice type, a GPS-advice range andGPS advice.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the memory medium isoperatively connected to a GPS device having a central processing unitand an output device.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the centralprocessing unit of the GPS device computes a current GPS device locationfor the GPS device, or accepts as input from a user of the GPS device,any GPS device location or GPS-advice type.
 4. The apparatus of claim 2,wherein the central processing unit of the GPS device compares thecomputed current, or user-input, GPS device location with the at leastone GPS-advice data set, and selects the GPS-advice data set for outputto the output device if the GPS device location falls within theGPS-advice range of the GPS-advice data set.
 5. The apparatus of claim2, wherein the central processing unit of the GPS device compares theuser-input GPS-advice type with the GPS-advice type of the GPS-advicedata set and selects the GPS-advice data set for output to the outputdevice if the user-input GPS-advice type matches the GPS-advice type ofthe GPS-advice data set.
 6. The Apparatus of claim 1, wherein theGPS-advice comprises advertising information referable to the GPS devicelocation.
 7. A method for providing information to a GPS device having acentral processing unit and an output device, comprising the step ofstoring at least one GPS-advice data set comprising a GPS-advice type, aGPS-advice range and GPS-advice on a memory medium operatively connectedto the GPS device.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the centralprocessing unit of the GPS device is programmed to compute a current GPSdevice location for the GPS device, or to accept as input by a user ofthe GPS device, any GPS device location or GPS-advice type.
 9. Themethod of claim 7, wherein the central processing unit of the GPS deviceis programmed to compare the computed current, or user-input, GPS devicelocation with the GPS-advice range of the GPS-advice data set, and toselect the GPS-advice data set for output to the output device if theGPS device location falls within the GPS-advice range of the GPS-advicedata set.
 10. The method of claim 7, wherein the central processing unitof the GPS device is programmed to compare the user-input GPS-advicetype with the GPS-advice type of the GPS-advice data set, and to selectthe GPS-advice data set for output to the output device if theuser-input GPS-advice type matches the GPS-advice type of the GPS-advicedata set.
 11. The method of claim 7, wherein the GPS-advice comprisesadvertising information referable to the GPS device location.
 12. Asystem comprising at least one GPS satellite having an allocation ofmemory storing at least one GPS-advice data set containing a GPS-advicetype, a GPS-advice range and GPS-advice.
 13. The system of claim 12,wherein the GPS satellite broadcasts the GPS-advice data set to a GPSdevice having a central processing unit and an output device.
 14. Thesystem of claim 13, wherein the central processing unit of the GPSdevice computes a current GPS device location for the GPS device, oraccepts as input from a user of the GPS device, any GPS device locationor GPS-advice type.
 15. The system of claim 13, wherein the centralprocessing unit of the GPS device compares the computed current, oruser-input, GPS device location with the GPS-advice range of thebroadcast GPS-advice data set, and selects the broadcast GPS-advice dataset for output to the output device if the GPS device location fallswithin the GPS-advice range of the broadcast GPS-advice data set. 16.The system of claim 13, wherein the central processing unit of the GPSdevice compares a user-input GPS-advice type with the GPS-advice type ofthe broadcast and received GPS-advice data set, and selects theGPS-advice data set for output to the output device if the user-inputGPS-advice type matches the GPS-advice type of the broadcast andreceived GPS-advice data set.
 17. The system of claim 13, wherein theGPS-advice comprises advertising information referable to at least oneGPS device location.
 18. A method for providing information to a GPSdevice having a central processing unit and an output device, comprisingthe steps of: storing at least one GPS-advice data set, comprising aGPS-advice type, a GPS-advice range, and GPS-advice in an allocation ofmemory of at least one GPS satellite; and, broadcasting the GPS-advicedata set from the GPS satellite for reception by the GPS device.
 19. Themethod of claim 18, wherein the central processing unit of the GPSdevice is programmed to compute a current GPS device location, or toaccept as input by a user, any GPS device location or GPS-advice type.20. The method of claim 18, wherein the central processing unit of theGPS device is programmed to compare the computed current, or user-input,GPS device location with the GPS-advice range of the broadcast andreceived GPS-advice data set, and to select the GPS-advice data set foroutput to the output device if the GPS device location falls within theGPS-advice range of the broadcast and received GPS-advice data set. 21.The method of claim 18, wherein the central processing unit of the GPSdevice is programmed to compare the user-input GPS-advice type with theGPS-advice type of the broadcast and received GPS-advice data set, andto select the broadcast GPS-advice data set for output to the outputdevice if the user-input GPS-advice type matches the GPS-advice type ofthe broadcast and received GPS-advice data set.
 22. The method of claim18, wherein GPS-advice datacom comprises advertising informationreferable to at least one GPS device location.